Convertible bed couch



CONVERTIBLE BED COUCH Filed May 31, 1950 s Sheets-Shet 1 JNVENTOR. .5,a0 MARTIN'5HANKMAN,

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March 5, 1957 M. SHANKMAN CONVERTIBLE BED comes 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 31, 1950 INVENTOR. MARTIN SHANKMAN, BY g) Pics] Arron/5r March 5,1957 M. SHANKMAN CONVERTIBLE BED coucn 3 Sheets -Sheet 3 Filed May 31,1950 -INVENTOR. MART\N 'sHANKMAN,

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4 rromvrx CONVERTIBLE BED COUCH Martin Shanltman, Miami, Fla.

Application May 31, 1950, Serial No. 165,240

3 Claims. (Cl. -18) This invention relates to improvements inconvertible couch beds and has particular reference to a couch that isextensible in a novel manner to form full size twin beds spaced fromeach other.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an upholstered couchhaving a fixed back section and a pair of divided seat sections, eachseat section carrying upholstered arms, with the seat sections beingshiftable in a generally circular path outwardly from the back sectionto be subsequently extended to form a pair of spaced apart and paralleltwin beds, or the seat sections may be partially shifted outwardly toangularly dispose the sections or fully shifted outwardly to form a pairof spaced opposed seats at right angle to the back section.

Another object of the invention resides in a back section having acentrally arranged upholstered and normally recessed arm rest, with thearm rest being swingably sup ported to swing outwardly for forming aflat top table between the extended seat sections.

A further object of the invention resides in novel support means for theshiftable seat sections, embodying trackways and antifriction means tofacilitate the shifting of the seat sections in a predetermined pathoutwardly from the fixed back section, whereby the seat sections intheir normal retracted position lie in snug end to end engagement withtheir attached arms in snug engagement with the ends of the backsection, providing in appearance a conventional upholstered couch, withthe trackways so arranged as to guide the seat sections in a horizontalcircular path outwardly of the back section to a maximum position wherethe seatsare arranged at a right angle to the back and in spacedparallel position with respect to each other and means whereby the seatsections may then be extended to form a full length pair of twin beds,spaced from and parallel with each other, with the cushions of the seatsections extended to form a mattress.

Further and important objectsand advantages of the invention will bereadily apparent during the course of the following description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein has beenillustrated one preferred form thereof and wherein like characters ofreference are employed to denote like parts throughout.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a couch constructed in accordance withthe invention and in the closed position,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the couch with one seat section fullymovedand extended to' form a bed,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the couch showing the seat sectionsshifted to an angular position from the back,

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the seat sections shifted to form apair of spaced opposed parallel seats,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the couch with the seat section shiftedand extended to form a bed,

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the supporting and shifting structure forthe seats, with one seat structure shifted parallel side channels 25closed at one end by an angle,

2,783,480 PatentedlVlar. 5, 1 957 tion in the fully. retracted position,with the back section in horizontal cross section,

Figure 7 is a central vertical section through the'back with oneseatsection extended and with its arm in section,

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the back section and attachedtrackways with the upholstering removed,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one seat section,

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a companion extensible seat section,and

Figure 11 is a detail section through the companion telescopic frames ofthe seat illustrating antifriction means.

Referring specifically to the drawings, numera15 designates a backsection as a whole, and 6 designates seat sections as a whole. Each seatsection includes arms 7 and double pad sections 8. The seat sections ina retracted position are engaged with each other at their abutting endswith the arms 7 lying in snug engagement with the ends of the backsection 5. The back section 5 and seat section 6, together with theirattached arms position, as shown in Figure 1, partially underlie theback section 5, for a purpose to be described.

The back section 6 includes legs 9, of any desirable number, but hereillustrated as three. The legs 9 carry an elevated and forwardlyextending shelf-like structure 10, having ends 11 and a pair of spacedpartitions 12, the forward edges ofwhich are curved upwardly andrearwardly, as clearly shown for providing a desirable contour for theback, over which is mounted suitable sup porting means for upholsterymaterial. The partitions 12 form a recess 13 into which is hingedlysupported, as at 14, an arm rest 15, having a flat inner surface 16 andwith the outer surface shaped to conform with the con tour of the backsection 5. The arm rest 15 is adapted to be swung outward-1y asindicated in Figures 2, 3, 4 Rigidly connected and 7, for forming a flattop table. with the legs 9 as by brackets 17, is a preferably T-shapedhorizontal trackway 18. The trackway Isis rigidly sup ported in parallelrelation. to the back through the medium of the bracket 17 and supportedin elevated position from the floor by end legs 19. A centrally arrangedbracket 20 is rigidly connected with the trackway 18 and extendsupwardly for attachment to the under surface of the Rigidly attached tothe tracks isadjacent its-center at a slightly lowerlevel are a pair ofoutwardly divergent preferably T-shaped tracks 21, supported at theirouter ends upon legs 22. The angularity of the tracks 21 is maintainedthrough the medium of brace bars 23, connected at the outer ends of thetracks 21 and with the: track 18 adjacent its ends, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 8.

Telescopic seat frames 24 and 25 are adaptedto ibe" shiftably supportedupon the tracks 18 and 21. The

frame 24 is of general rectangular shape and includes y m n v a l q ippo s pon ts l w r flange The cushion pads 8 are prefer 3an-antifr'iction roller' dvi'c'e'29 having engagement over themnapedaraek" 18. The" renter"deviaa'iaemds a frame having inwardlyextending fingers 30 engaging beneath the head of the track 18 as ameans to prevent vertical displacement.' The roller device 29' ispivbtall'y suppb'r'ted at 31 adj'acenfo'ne corner of'the frame 24.

A second roller device 32 is pivotally supported" zit-33' upon aninwardly extending bracket 34 carriedby" one channel 25". The 'rollerdevice 32 is identical to the roller device 29 and engages the'tracks'21 in a similar manner. The forward end of the frame 24 issupported upon legs 35 carrying, at their lower ends swivel casters 36.The'frame 24 of each seat section 6 is identical, but with the rollerdevices 29 and 32 reversed. The 'sectio'ns24 in'use, are adaptedtobe"shifted outwardly from the back ma horizontal 'circular'path' indicatedclearly in Figure 6lwith theforward'endjs of 'the frames 24 beingsupported in an antifrictional manner by the casters 3d and the innerends of the frames beingfr'eely shiftable in' its'circular path over thetracl-:s 18"and 21 through the medium of the roller devices'29 and 32.The angle iron' 27 carries stop pins 37 for a'purpose t be' described.

Theframes 25 are adapted-to telescope within the frames '24, as clearlyshown and the'frames 25 include parallel side channels 38 closed attheir inner ends by a connecting angle iron 39. The opposite ends of thechannels 38 are connected and closed by a channel 40. The channels 38support any desirable mattress-supporting spring elements 41. The outerends of the channels 38 carry rigid vertically arranged angle irons 42serving as means whereby the box frames 43- of *the arms 7 is rigidlyattached to the frames 25. The box frames 43 carry swivel casters 44 forfacilitating the outward extension of the frames 25 with respect to theframes 24. As before stated, the frames 25 are'adapted to telescopewithin the frames 24 and arelimited in their outer extension by theabutment of the angle iron39 with the pins 37. Adjacent the inner end ofthe frame 25, the channels 38 are provided with antifriction rollers45,"to facilitate the telescopic movement of the'frames with respect toeach other. 7

Each seat section 8 includes mattress forming pad sections 46 hingedtogether at their abutting ends and adapted to be normally folded oneupon the other, as shown in Figure l, and as shown in the extendedposition in Figure 5. Pad sections in the folded position provide a seatof the desired height and when the seats are in retracted position,partiallyunderlie the shelf '10 so as to provide a seat area of properWidth, but with the pads having an overall width suitable for forming astandard twin bed mattress, and the length of the pad sections'are suchthat they form a full length mattress when in the extended or unfoldedposition to jointly'lie upon the spring section 28 and 41. One side ofeach frame 24 may be provided with a suitable upholstered board 47 forimparting a finished appearance to the couch. The

seatsections when in a retracted position, as in Figure 1, completelyclose the lower open portion of the back'S through the medium of the arm7, wholly obscuring the under carriage and trackways.

In the use of the device with the parts in a retracted position, asshown in Figure l, the operator merely grasps one arm 7, swingingitoutwardly in a circular path away from the back. 5 in a mannerillustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6 with the roller device 29shifting longitudinally of the track 18 and the roller device '32servinggenerally as the pivotal point around which the member shifts. Theroller device 32 will obviously shift slightly outwardly along the track21 to compensate for the archate movement of the frame and when theframe has been shifted to a full 90 degree angle, the roller device 29will abut any suitable stop device (not shown) on the track 18, thusdefinitely positioning theseat in-its maximum turning movement. Theroller device 32 obviously will" shift rearwardly along the track 21.With the seat shifted to the'full'90 degree anglefthe operator graspsthe arm 7, moving it outwardly, permitted by the extensible telescopicmovement of the frames 24 and 25, being stopped in its maximum outwardmovement by the pins 37. The shifting of the seat is facilitatedobviously by the casters 36 and 44. After the frame 25 has been movedoutwardly to its limit, the operator'extends the pads 46 as in Figure 5,thereby forming a full length'and conventional width of bed. If it isdesired that twin beds be used, the operator proceeds with the oppositeseat in an identical manner. Should a night table be desired, theoperator merely swings the member outwardly upon its hinge 14 providinga'table having a flat top that is positioned between the beds, the bedsin their extended position are suitably spaced in parallel relation withtheir outer sides in alignment with the ends of the back. When hisdesired to close the beds, the operator merely folds one pad upon theother, shifts the frames 24 and together through the medium of the arm 7and then proceeds to swing the seat in an arc rearwardly to a pointwherethe arm 7 contacts the end of the back 5. In a fully retractedposition of both beds, their ends are in snug abutting relation witheach other and partially underlying the back 5. It may be desirable attimes to merely employ the seat sections in a manner illustrated inFigures 3 or 4 and in Figure 3, the angularity of the seats as shown isdetermined'by the wishes of the operator. In Figure 4 the operator hasmerely moved the seats'to a 90 degree angle, forming a pair of parallelopposed seat sections. The member 15 may or may not be swung outwardlywhen the invention is employed as in Figures 3 and 4. When extendingframe 25, its movement is facilitated by the casters 44 and theengagement of the rollers upon the inner sides and bottom of thechannels 25.

ltwill be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel and highlydesirable form of convertible bed couch has been provided. The structureis'ornamental and easily and conveniently shifted in an arc to providedesirable full length beds requiring a minimum of area in which tooperate. The parts are few and simple and are easily assembled ordisassembled for shipping or assembling in various places. It will befurther apparent, that while trackways have been provided for thearcuate swinging movement of the seat sections, fixed pivotal means maybe employed for each frame 24 whereby-the seat sections may be swungoutwardly in a fixed arc, all other parts remaining identical as to forman operation. The structure is simple, cheap to manufacture, is strong,durable, and highly efficient and desirable in use.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction shown, but that various changes in the shape, size andarrangement of parts, may be resorted to as fall Within the scope of theinvention or the terms of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A convertible bed couch including a back section having fioor' legsand an elevated forwardly extending upholstered back, trackwaysconnected to the leg of the back section and supported in elevatedhorizontal position, certain of the'trackways being forwardly'extendedand provided with floor legs, one of the trackways underlying and beingparallel with the upholstered back, seat sections for the couch thatincludes each a pair of frame members telescopic with respect to" each"other, track rollers carried by'one frame member of each seat sectionfor shiftable engagement with-the trackways, the other frame member ofeach seat sectionhaving" fixed thereto anend arm, the'seat sectionsadapted to be swung forwardly in an arcuate path from the back sectionand supported in their swinging movement by the *trackways, legs for oneof'the frames that are provided with wheeled casters, wheeled castersfor the end arms, mattress supporting springs fixed upon each frame,each seat section provided with a double cushion, each seat section whenshifted forwardly of the back, adapted to have one frame member and itsend arm extended forwardly to form a full length bed, the cushionsadapted to be extended to fully overlie the length of the bed, theextended beds lying in parallel spaced relation and a member carried bythe upholstered back adapted to be swung forward to provide a flat toptable between the two beds.

2. A bed couch having an upstanding back section that is provided withfloor legs and a forwardly projecting elevated upholstered portionhaving a shiftable center arm rest, a pair of seat sections each havingan end arm, the seat sections adapted to normally partially underlie theupholstered portion, an elevated horizontal track underlying theprojecting upholstered portion and being parallel with the back section,brackets connecting the track with the legs of the back section, a pairof forwardly extending and outwardly divergent trackways connected withthe first named track, the trackways being in parallel spaced relationto the floor legs rigidly connected with each of the trackways tosupport the trackways in their parallel spaced relation to the floor,each seat section embodying a pair of rectangular frames that aretelescopic with respect to each other, one of the frames of each seatsection being supported at one end upon the trackways, antifrictionmeans between the frame and the trackways, caster carrying legs for thesupport of the opposite end of the frame, the other frame of each seatsection being telescopic and extensible with respect to the first namedframe and having fixed thereto an end arm that is provided with floorcasters, mattress springs carried by each frame, each seat sectionhaving a double folded cushion that is hinged together, each seatsection adapted to swing outwardly in a horizontal are supported andlimited in its swinging movement by the trackways,

the seat sections when fully swung outwardly lying at a right angle tothe back, the telescopic frame adapted to be extended forwardly of itscompanion frame to form a full length bed frame supported at its outerend by the caster carrying end arm, the cushions adapted to be unfoldedone from the other to fully overlie the bed frame, the seat sectionswhen swung outwardly to their maximum position being at right angle tothe back and in spaced parallel relation to each other.

3. A bed couch having an upright back section that is provided withfloor engaging legs, the back section having an elevated and forwardlyextending upholstered portion provided with a centrally arrangedoutwardly swinging arm rest, a horizontally arranged track underlyingthe upholstered portion and parallel therewith for the major portion ofits length, brackets connecting the trackway to the back legs, a centralbracket connected with the trackway and the underside of the upholsteredportion, floor engaging legs rigidly connected to each end of the track,a pair of forwardly divergent trackways connected with the first namedtrack, floor engaging legs rigidly connected to the outer ends of thedivergent tracks, diagonal braces connected with the outer ends of thedivergent tracks and with the first named track, a pair of seat sectionsof identical shape and size adapted to be positioned in end to endabutment and to partially underlie the upholstered portion of the back,the seat sections jointly being co-extensive with the back, each seatsection embodying a support that includes a pair of rectangular framestelescopic with respect to each other, one frame being shiftablysupported upon the trackways and provided with antifriction trackrollers, the last named frame supported atits opposite end by legs thatare rigidly connected thereto and with the legs having caster wheels,the second frame shiftable into and out of the first frame,anti-friction means between the frames, each frame provided with crosssprings for the support of a mattress, the second frame provided withangle brackets at its outer end for rigid connection with an upholsteredend arm for the couch, the end arm provided with wheeled casters, acushion for the seat sections that comprises a pair of identicalcushions hinged together transversely, the seat section adapted to benormally arranged parallel with the back with the pair of cushionspartially underlying the back, each seat section adapted to be shiftedforwardly in a horizontal are as determined by the engagement of thetrack rollers with the tracks to position the seat sections outwardly ofthe back at a right angle, the second frame adapted to be shiftedoutwardly of the first frame to provide a full length bed and thecushions adapted to be unfolded one from the other to extend entirelyover the two frames, the beds in the fully extended position beingparallel and spaced from each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS271,485 Lude Jan. 30, 1883 1,413,593 Kreuzkamp Apr. 25, 1922 2,081,374Hall et a1 May 25, 1937 2,087,574 Kaufer July 20, 1937 2,523,987 FoxSept. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 81,432 Sweden Sept. ll, 1934 150,302Great Britain Aug. 4, 1921 261,594 Switzerland May 31, 1949 264,248Switzerland Oct. 15, 1949 581,530 Germany July 29, 1933

